Hennessey or Lawson? Hammock Camping...

I saw the thread about tent vs. hammock, and I saw the thread for tent recommendations. In both, the Hennessey hammocks were recommended. I checked out the website and absolutely love the Explorer for my clydesdale body. However, I like the setup and multi-usability of the Lawson BlueRidge hammock. If I am absolutely stuck without any trees, it sets up as a bivy tent. I also like the idea of the poles to make the inside seem more like a tent.

The problem is that the Lawson website doesn't have a lot of info about their tent. Nothing specific. No sizes (will it fit me comfortably at 6'4" and 250#?), no pack sizes like length (will the poles fit in the vertical bags on my Arkel T-42's?), and no specifics on fabric weight. In fact, it only really says that it is only 4 lbs, which isn't much more than the 9' Hennessey Explorer.

So, any advice? Any Lawson users? Any specs?

I'm buying in the next couple days. Doing a weekend long practice tour next month.

I live in Hawaii, and the camping areas and parks have plenty of trees, and I can't find any P&R regs preventing use of a hammock.

Raleigh Aspen touring/off-road hybrid, and a Bob Yak trailer. Yak very useful for us car-free types that like to buy lots of beer.

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The Hennessy is simply awesome. I have never had a problem finding something to hand the hammock on. Check our The Hennessy website for creative hammock hanging possibilities. Also, check out Stokell's website. It's great.

Once you have a hammock, you see the world thorugh new eyes. You'll be looking at anything and saying, "Ooh, I could hang my hammock from THAT!"

I have used the Hennessey product but not the Lawson. Just going from the photos I think I would prefer the Hennessey with its' single support rope. If you expect to be camping out in any rain it would pay to go for a larger sized fly if possible. I found it possible to use a smaller fly in the rain, but every year I had to reaquire the skill of setting it 'just so' otherwise leaks would result. The only other disadvantage to a hammock is that there is very limited room for packing up if its still raining in the morning. I'm not sure if the Lawson is any better in this regard.
The Hennessey also comes with everything you need to start with, whereas the Lawson comes minus the ropes which go around the tree.
Finally regarding the ability to bivvy on the ground if no suitable trees are found - I never have had to do this so can't really comment, but apparently it is possible. You'd probably need a camping mattress. On my last rip I took a thin lightweight 3/4 model any way to act as extra underneath insulation, although I see Hennessey offer these also now.

edit - also I think the underneath entry to be superior to Lawsons' method through the side.

Say you are in the middle of Texas and there is no trees or objects to hang your hammock. How does it hold up if you have to set it on the ground in a hard rain??

If you're planning to go through the middle of Texas with no trees, you really should consider taking a tent. However, chances are that it won't rain. And if it does, it probably won't rain very long. In such case, you could pack up the hammock, don your rain suit, and hunker down till the storm passes. Maybe wrap the hammock fly around you as well.

The pictures I've seen of a hennessey hammock pitched on the ground don't look very windproof. If you get a hard rain in Texas, it WILL be windy - very windy.

got one!

I ordered my Hennessey Hammock! Thanks for the links ro and tspoon. I could hardly find a bad word against the Hennessey's, but the reviews for the Lawson were iffy. Seemed like anyone who had tried both preferred the Hennessey.

Good info all. Looking forward to using it! I'll let you know how it goes.

The Hennessy is simply awesome. I have never had a problem finding something to hand the hammock on. Check our The Hennessy website for creative hammock hanging possibilities. Also, check out Stokell's website. It's great.

Once you have a hammock, you see the world thorugh new eyes. You'll be looking at anything and saying, "Ooh, I could hang my hammock from THAT!"

I must be getting a reputation! My Stealth Camping site does have lot's of info on the Hennessy.

"I live in Hawaii, and the camping areas and parks have plenty of trees, and I can't find any P&R regs preventing use of a hammock."

A lot of these places aren't up to speed yet, don't know about Hawai. What you really need to be warry of are a general perception this stuff damages trees. Having been through the whole trees and climbing ropes and slings things, where loads are normally more tree friendly than a hammock, I think parks are going to get prescriptive on this stuff. If I was going mostly park to park, I would be 100% tent or tarp (could be your hammock's) since they have already laid out the campsites for tents. For stealth sites hammocks are ideal. Trying to use a hammock at the KOA where they seem to cut down all the trees to make parking easier...

...ummm thanks...

Thanks for the input. I did go with the Hennessy. I even used it "park to park" for my first ever tour here on Oahu. No issues, at least this time. A lot of interest in it from others at the parks. Up at Peacock Flats, there was a small group with two of them using Hennessy's. Of course, that's a whole different style of campground.

Thanks for the input. I did go with the Hennessy. I even used it "park to park" for my first ever tour here on Oahu. No issues, at least this time. A lot of interest in it from others at the parks. Up at Peacock Flats, there was a small group with two of them using Hennessy's. Of course, that's a whole different style of campground.